Greifswald's University is revolutionizing teaching methods for the future!

Greifswald's University is revolutionizing teaching methods for the future!

The University of Greifswald has recently achieved great success in the development of innovative teaching concepts. She received funding as part of the “Teaching Architecture. Shaping the University of the Future” initiative of the Innovation in University Teaching Foundation (StIL). Two projects were approved that aim to give academic education a sustainable direction. These projects, the individual project “Constructing the Future: studying future-oriented” (CON-FUTURE) and the joint project “Networked teaching – qualification for teachers and tutors” (QLever), are all about promoting future skills and improving the didactic qualification of teachers.

The Vice Rector for Teaching, Prof. Dr. Anette Sosna, sees the funding commitment as a significant success that will not only benefit the University of Greifswald, but also the cooperation between universities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The projects will begin on October 1, 2025 and run until December 31, 2029, with the option of a two-year extension. Deans of studies and representatives of central institutions were significantly involved in the applications, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Anette Sosna, who took over responsibility from the former vice-rector Dorthe G. A. Hartmann.

Individual project CON-FUTURE

The individual project CON-FUTURE aims to promote students' opportunities to participate in teaching and examinations. Key aspects are the acquisition of future skills and the curricular anchoring of these skills in all five faculties of the university.

The planned measures include the introduction of a sustainable support structure, for example through tutorials and mentoring. In addition, project-based learning opportunities are to be created that place a particular focus on future skills and competency-oriented examination formats. A transfer structure to support graduates in the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania region is also planned. The comprehensive objectives of the project include increasing student success and promoting regional networks as part of the university's Third Mission.

QLever joint project

As part of the QLever joint project, the aim is to integrate university didactic continuing education formats into the existing structures at the University of Greifswald and in the partner universities, including the University of Rostock, Neubrandenburg University and Stralsund University of Applied Sciences. A central concern is the development of an “MV certificate for tutors in university teaching” and the visualization of best practices.

In addition, practical activities such as innovation laboratories, workshops and didactics master classes on topics such as artificial intelligence and future skills are planned. These measures are intended not only to further train teachers, but also to strengthen the network of universities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

Integration of future skills in university teaching

The importance of future skills in higher education is also demonstrated by the study by Dr. Nina Horstmann confirms this. This study, published in 2023, examines the integration of future skills in university teaching from the perspective of professors in business and law subjects. A second wave of surveys, for example, collects data from mathematical, scientific and medical subjects.

Future skills are relevant skills that students need in rapidly changing situations. The study shows that despite a high perception of the importance of these skills, the actual support in the courses depends heavily on the subject area.

The top five funded future skills are:

• Problemlösekompetenz
• Kritisches Denken
• Kollaboration
• Kommunikation
• Eigeninitiative

In contrast, digital skills are considered important by fewer professors and are less often promoted in teaching. This highlights a significant gap between the academic perception and the practical implementation of future skills in universities.

With its new projects, the University of Greifswald is positioning itself as a pioneer in the university landscape and is actively committed to integrating future skills into its course offerings. The coming years will be crucial to successfully implement the initiative and to further develop the training system in line with the requirements of the modern working world. Further information can be found at uni-greifswald.de, hochschuldaten.che.de and stifterverband.org.